Yahoo! Games

Chris Wesseling

Waiver Wired

Head Games

Medical doctor and footballguys.com analyst Jene Bramel offers an in-depth look at concussions and fantasy football at his website Bramelsecondopinion.com. Is Austin Collie, sidelined for the final seven games of the 2010 season, more susceptible to concussions after getting knocked out again two and a half weeks ago?

Research citing an increased risk for those with a history of concussions has included athletes allowed to return before their symptoms were fully resolved. According to Bramel, some neurologists believe that a player held out until full resolution of symptoms are not at a higher risk than other players. “In short, a healed brain is a healed brain and not necessarily more susceptible to future injury just because there is a history of past injury,” explains Bramel.

Armed with that knowledge, we shouldn’t be blown away by the willingness of Colts coaches and doctors to clear Collie for the Week 1 matchup with the Bears despite a third concussion in 22 months. “Full go. Yep," coach Chuck Pagano said of Collie after Monday’s return. “(Looked) great. Fresh legs. Ran all over the place. Caught everything."

An every-down receiver in Bruce Arians’ aggressive offense, Collie was Andrew Luck’s favorite target in offseason practices and training camp. He had bypassed Reggie Wayne as a top-30 fantasy option in the Rotoworld Draft Guide before his mid-August concussion. Collie isn’t without risk, but it should be noted that he played all 16 games a year ago after the concussion issues of 2010.

At the cost of a roster spot, Collie should be owned in all leagues going forward. Keep in mind, it was just two years ago that Collie was leading all wide receivers in fantasy points before undergoing mid-season thumb surgery and dealing with the subsequent late-season concussions.

***

This is the first Waiver Wired of the season, so let's review the rules:

Every Tuesday, I'll go over the best available pickups at every fantasy position except kicker. Every league setup is different, so I'll try to include players who may be available in shallow leagues, and lesser-known players that are worth trying in deep leagues. I give a recommendation for each player, such as "Should be owned in 12-team leagues." This doesn't mean you should own him, just that he's good enough to improve one of the rosters in your league. If I write, "Must be owned," or "Should be owned in all leagues," I'm recommending doing what you can to find a spot.

Most of my leagues have moved to sites which allow owners to place interesting free agents on a "watch list" for future consideration. As such, each week I will throw in a few long-term fliers that should be placed on watch lists for easy access when a quick decision is needed.

On to the players. Here is how I rank the top players available at each position as we head into the season opener. Full write-ups of each player are below.

***

Editor's Note: Join subscriber only chats, get weekly rankings before anyone else, plus exclusive weekly projections, stat tools, dynasty ranks, columns, and much more including the Rotoworld Oracle in our Season Pass. Also last-minute drafters can still get the latest projection updates in Rotoworld's draft guide.

Locker’s preseason performance was up-and-down to say the least, but it’s worth remembering that he was playing without the one passing-game weapon, Kenny Britt, who draws double teams. With the Week 2 return of Britt to go with impressive rookie Kendall Wright, steady veteran Nate Washington, improving tight end Jared Cook as well as Chris Johnson in the screen game, Locker has the arsenal to make fantasy noise in Chris Palmer’s Run ‘N Shoot variation. Don’t forget about his legs, either. Consistency will be elusive, but Locker has QB1 potential in a best-case scenario.

Playing mostly against second- and third-stringers, Wilson won over the Seahawks coaching staff by marching the offense up and down the field to the tune of 8.5 yards per attempt with six total touchdowns. He’s proven to be NFL-ready with effective scrambling ability that offers high upside as a QB2 option. The questions are whether Wilson can offer consistent fantasy production against a first-team defense in a run-oriented offense with question marks at wide receiver and tight end. At the cost of a waiver pickup, it’s worth finding out.

This is an intriguing QB2 option, available for the price of a waiver pickup. Ponder showed a marked increase in accuracy (60.5 percent) and efficiency (8.71 YPA) in preseason action, enjoying the emergence of Kyle Rudolph and Jerome Simpson as viable second and third options to Percy Harvin in the passing game. Often overlooked as an athlete, Ponder also has the running ability to pick up an extra 3-5 points per week. There’s high-end QB2 upside here beyond an improved offensive line.

After developing bad habits due to poor pass protection in a lost season last year, Bradford looked fantastic in preseason Weeks 2 and 4. Sandwiched in between, however, Bradford once again looked tentative and shaky in the face of defensive pressure. Bradford certainly has the arm for fantasy success, but the Rams’ low-grade offensive line and subpar receiver corps will leave him with consistency issues throughout the season.

Even if we can’t predict specific injuries with any degree of accuracy, it’s fair to posit that Michael Vick’s relatively carefree playing style leaves him more susceptible to missed games. Foles still has to prove he can handle heavy blitzes, but showed in extensive preseason action that he could move the offense consistently, especially in the red zone. If the poised rookie is called upon to start, the Eagles offensive weapons give him borderline QB1 appeal.

Tebow has been a QB1 option every time he has started. … Hill, Orton and Mallett join Foles as the backups with the best combination of offensive talent and fantasy potential. … Kaepernick’s dangerous rushing ability and questionable accuracy put him in the Tebow class of backups.

Sanchez, Tannehill, Weeden and Skelton are under center in the league’s most inept offenses. … Gabbert has been managed well by Mike Mularkey in preseason action, but this remains a run-first offense. Gabbert is going to have to show he can do more than first-read quick passes before he gains fantasy appeal.

I can’t believe Smith is owned in two-third of fantasy leagues while upside options such as Locker and Wilson are barely owned in half. We know what Smith offers by now, and it’s worthless in fantasy circles. … Dalton hasn’t moved the Bengals since before last Thanksgiving. His tight end is coming back from a knee injury, the interior of his offensive line hasn’t blocked well all preseason and there’s no receiving weapon beyond A.J. Green. You can do better for a fantasy backup.

Medical doctor and footballguys.com analyst Jene Bramel offers an in-depth look at concussions and fantasy football at his website Bramelsecondopinion.com. Is Austin Collie, sidelined for the final seven games of the 2010 season, more susceptible to concussions after getting knocked out again two and a half weeks ago?

Research citing an increased risk for those with a history of concussions has included athletes allowed to return before their symptoms were fully resolved. According to Bramel, some neurologists believe that a player held out until full resolution of symptoms are not at a higher risk than other players. “In short, a healed brain is a healed brain and not necessarily more susceptible to future injury just because there is a history of past injury,” explains Bramel.

Armed with that knowledge, we shouldn’t be blown away by the willingness of Colts coaches and doctors to clear Collie for the Week 1 matchup with the Bears despite a third concussion in 22 months. “Full go. Yep," coach Chuck Pagano said of Collie after Monday’s return. “(Looked) great. Fresh legs. Ran all over the place. Caught everything."

An every-down receiver in Bruce Arians’ aggressive offense, Collie was Andrew Luck’s favorite target in offseason practices and training camp. He had bypassed Reggie Wayne as a top-30 fantasy option in the Rotoworld Draft Guide before his mid-August concussion. Collie isn’t without risk, but it should be noted that he played all 16 games a year ago after the concussion issues of 2010.

At the cost of a roster spot, Collie should be owned in all leagues going forward. Keep in mind, it was just two years ago that Collie was leading all wide receivers in fantasy points before undergoing mid-season thumb surgery and dealing with the subsequent late-season concussions.

***

This is the first Waiver Wired of the season, so let's review the rules:

Every Tuesday, I'll go over the best available pickups at every fantasy position except kicker. Every league setup is different, so I'll try to include players who may be available in shallow leagues, and lesser-known players that are worth trying in deep leagues. I give a recommendation for each player, such as "Should be owned in 12-team leagues." This doesn't mean you should own him, just that he's good enough to improve one of the rosters in your league. If I write, "Must be owned," or "Should be owned in all leagues," I'm recommending doing what you can to find a spot.

Most of my leagues have moved to sites which allow owners to place interesting free agents on a "watch list" for future consideration. As such, each week I will throw in a few long-term fliers that should be placed on watch lists for easy access when a quick decision is needed.

On to the players. Here is how I rank the top players available at each position as we head into the season opener. Full write-ups of each player are below.

***

Editor's Note: Join subscriber only chats, get weekly rankings before anyone else, plus exclusive weekly projections, stat tools, dynasty ranks, columns, and much more including the Rotoworld Oracle in our Season Pass. Also last-minute drafters can still get the latest projection updates in Rotoworld's draft guide.

Locker’s preseason performance was up-and-down to say the least, but it’s worth remembering that he was playing without the one passing-game weapon, Kenny Britt, who draws double teams. With the Week 2 return of Britt to go with impressive rookie Kendall Wright, steady veteran Nate Washington, improving tight end Jared Cook as well as Chris Johnson in the screen game, Locker has the arsenal to make fantasy noise in Chris Palmer’s Run ‘N Shoot variation. Don’t forget about his legs, either. Consistency will be elusive, but Locker has QB1 potential in a best-case scenario.

Playing mostly against second- and third-stringers, Wilson won over the Seahawks coaching staff by marching the offense up and down the field to the tune of 8.5 yards per attempt with six total touchdowns. He’s proven to be NFL-ready with effective scrambling ability that offers high upside as a QB2 option. The questions are whether Wilson can offer consistent fantasy production against a first-team defense in a run-oriented offense with question marks at wide receiver and tight end. At the cost of a waiver pickup, it’s worth finding out.

This is an intriguing QB2 option, available for the price of a waiver pickup. Ponder showed a marked increase in accuracy (60.5 percent) and efficiency (8.71 YPA) in preseason action, enjoying the emergence of Kyle Rudolph and Jerome Simpson as viable second and third options to Percy Harvin in the passing game. Often overlooked as an athlete, Ponder also has the running ability to pick up an extra 3-5 points per week. There’s high-end QB2 upside here beyond an improved offensive line.

After developing bad habits due to poor pass protection in a lost season last year, Bradford looked fantastic in preseason Weeks 2 and 4. Sandwiched in between, however, Bradford once again looked tentative and shaky in the face of defensive pressure. Bradford certainly has the arm for fantasy success, but the Rams’ low-grade offensive line and subpar receiver corps will leave him with consistency issues throughout the season.

Even if we can’t predict specific injuries with any degree of accuracy, it’s fair to posit that Michael Vick’s relatively carefree playing style leaves him more susceptible to missed games. Foles still has to prove he can handle heavy blitzes, but showed in extensive preseason action that he could move the offense consistently, especially in the red zone. If the poised rookie is called upon to start, the Eagles offensive weapons give him borderline QB1 appeal.

Tebow has been a QB1 option every time he has started. … Hill, Orton and Mallett join Foles as the backups with the best combination of offensive talent and fantasy potential. … Kaepernick’s dangerous rushing ability and questionable accuracy put him in the Tebow class of backups.

Sanchez, Tannehill, Weeden and Skelton are under center in the league’s most inept offenses. … Gabbert has been managed well by Mike Mularkey in preseason action, but this remains a run-first offense. Gabbert is going to have to show he can do more than first-read quick passes before he gains fantasy appeal.

I can’t believe Smith is owned in two-third of fantasy leagues while upside options such as Locker and Wilson are barely owned in half. We know what Smith offers by now, and it’s worthless in fantasy circles. … Dalton hasn’t moved the Bengals since before last Thanksgiving. His tight end is coming back from a knee injury, the interior of his offensive line hasn’t blocked well all preseason and there’s no receiving weapon beyond A.J. Green. You can do better for a fantasy backup.

Ryan Mathews (fractured clavicle) returned to practice Monday, but that means little until he’s cleared for contact. Until Mathews gains that clearance, Brown is the favorite for carries and receptions in the Chargers backfield. Although he appeared to be running on fumes last season, Brown has shown fresh legs in preseason action. He’s a good bet for 15-20 touches as a RB2 option if Mathews does indeed sit out Monday’s game at Oakland.

I’ve been saying for nearly a month now that I would rather carry a slimmed-down Dwyer on my fantasy roster than a plodding Isaac Redman playing through hip and groin injuries. Dwyer has severely outplayed Redman in training camp and preseason action, showing better than expected hands and an ability to burst through the line with quick cuts. Redman may get the courtesy start at Denver this week, but the Pittsburgh papers now expect Dwyer to get plenty of snaps from the get-go. Dwyer has the talent to emerge as the leader of this committee with Redman, Rashard Mendenhall and Chris Rainey. If he starts the season hot, he could stay out in front all season long.

Coach Jim Harbaugh and OC Greg Roman both believe Hunter “really has a chance to have a big year” after an “exceptional” offseason and training camp. Already one of the league’s premier change-of-pace options, Hunter will eat into Frank Gore’s workload this season. We wouldn’t be surprised if Hunter ends up with better fantasy numbers than Gore at the end of the season.

Here is Mike Shanahan’s backfield in a nutshell: A few hours before Friday’s cuts, the Washington Times opined that Tim Hightower, “if totally healthy, figures to be the favorite” to enter the season as the starter. Hightower was promptly released, leaving a three-headed monster of Morris, Evan Royster and Roy Helu. Although Royster stood atop the depth chart released on Monday, he confessed that he has no idea what his role will be for the opener. The backfield breakdown from beat writer John Keim suggests all three Redskins backs must be owned in fantasy leagues even if none can be trusted as a starter.

A power back in the mode of Marion Barber, Turbin has already bypassed Leon Washington as Marshawn Lynch’s backup thanks to a strong preseason showing. Lynch has experienced back spasms for the second time in the past 12 months, leaving Turbin as the obvious “handcuff.” Should Lynch miss time, Turbin would have strong RB2 appeal.

You will see other sites trumpet BenJarvus Green-Ellis as Cedric Benson’s feature-back replacement. That analysis ignores the consistent signs out of Bengals headquarters that OC Jay Gruden wants to move toward a committee approach. Green-Ellis was a bargain role player in New England, killing the clock and converting in short-yardage situations for one of the league’s premier offenses. With no playmaking ability to speak of, Green-Ellis is practically useless between the 20s and when playing from behind. As the lone big-play threat in this backfield, we expect Scott’s role to grow at Green-Ellis’ expense over the course of the season.

After watching preseason game tape, NFL Films analyst Greg Cosell opined that the fifth-round rookie was already the best runner on the Colts roster. Although Donald Brown will enter the season atop the depth chart, the new coaching staff isn’t beholden to any holdovers from last year. Ballard’s role could grow at Brown’s expense if the veteran gets off to a slow start.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues.

Taiwan Jones, Raiders - Owned in 17 percent of CBS leagues, 5% of Yahoo leagues.Mike Goodson hasn’t been the same since being carted off the field with a neck injury early in training camp. The more explosive and sure-handed Jones appears to have bypassed him as Darren McFadden’s primary backup. Neither player is has the every-down ability to be a pure “handcuff,” but Jones offers more upside.

If you have the roster space, why not carry Best? What does it cost you other than hope? If he gains clearance for contact while on the early-season PUP list, he becomes a fantasy starter by mid-season. If you need the roster spot, throw him back in. … Hillman, Powell, Green and Vereen will enter the season as passing-down specialists with the potential for increased roles over the long haul. … Miller has the talent to push Daniel Thomas for the No. 2 job in Miami.

Blount is nothing more than a low-upside handcuff for Doug Martin owners. He's barely worthy of a roster spot in 12-team leagues. … Starks is still battling turf toe. … Thomas is a pure backup to Reggie Bush, not a third-down back. … Jacobs is a short-yardage specialist with a knee injury. … Hightower is out of the league. … Goodson fell behind Taiwan Jones for the No. 2 job.

Collie has been a quarterback-friendly receiver dating back to his BYU days. Emerging as Andrew Luck’s favorite target in OTAs and training-camp practices, Collie had climbed to No. 30 in the Rotoworld Draft Guide receiver ranks before his latest concussion. While Collie remains a red-flag injury risk, he is symptom-free and “full-go” for the season opener versus the Bears. He offers WR2 upside at the cost of a roster spot. This is a no-brainer pick-up entering the season.

Edwards is just two years removed from a 21st-place fantasy finish with Mark Sanchez as his quarterback. Last year was a wash due to a season-long knee ailment, but all indications from Seahawks camp suggest Edwards has regained pre-injury form. Golden Tate, his competition for the starting split end job, is expected to miss at least two weeks with a knee injury. Edwards could take the job and run with it as a WR3 candidate under rookie Russell Wilson.

A big, physical receiver with good hands and better than expected blocking ability, Streater was Carson Palmer’s top preseason target with an impressive 18 catches for 165 yards in three games. If Denarius Moore (hamstring) remains sidelined versus the Chargers, Streater is a borderline WR3 option. If Jacoby Ford (foot) sits out instead, Streater will play the slot as a less appealing fantasy option.

Easily the Dolphins’ best receiver throughout camp and preseason action, Bess is locked in as Ryan Tannehill’s No. 1 target entering the season. Don’t expect touchdowns or big plays in a low-scoring offense, but there should be plenty of six-catch, 70-yard games in Bess’ future.

The steam has gone out of Cobb’s breakout sails on the heels of Donald Driver’s strong training camp. Should Driver or James Jones suffer an injury, however, Cobb would enter the fantasy WR3 mix with an increase in snaps. A Percy Harvin-like talent, Cobb should earn more playing time over the course of the season regardless. He’s an ideal WR5 stash.

A popular preseason breakout candidate a year ago, Simpson’s vertical game ended up being a poor fit for Jay Gruden’s West Coast offense that relied more on preseason route running. The Vikings spent the offseason and training camp raving about Simpson’s speed and athleticism as a much-needed downfield threat to complement Percy Harvin. Suspended the first three games, Simpson projects as the every-down “X” receiver once he returns in October. Stash him if you have the roster space.

Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues.

Steve Smith, Rams - Owned in 9% of CBS leagues, 5 percent of Yahoo leagues.Smith doesn’t offer much in the way of upside in a run-oriented offense that figures to be among the league’s lowest scoring. If you’re looking for early-season targets, receptions and yards, though, Smith could offer borderline WR3 production as the starter opposite Danny Amendola.

Baldwin made plenty of noise with spectacular catches in offseason and training-camp practices, but that was before Dwayne Bowe signed his franchise tender and reported to the team. Baldwin is now relegated to third or fourth option in the passing game for an offense that figures to run as much as possible. The 2011 first-rounder is likely another year away from a true breakout.

Devin Hester will enter the season as the nominal starter opposite Brandon Marshall, but Jeffery is coming like a freight train after a strong training camp. As an early-season situational player, Jeffery’s production will be spotty, but he has a chance to finish second to Marshall in wide receiver snaps this year. The second-rounder is purely a stash for now.

Royal has been among the NFL’s most inefficient receivers over the past couple of years. Skepticism is advised when coach Norv Turner calls him one of the most impressive players he’s coached the past few years. Pay no mind Peter King’s “fantasy alert” on Royal. That is a curse more often than a blessing. … Brown was the best route runner and the only Chargers receivers capable of playing all three positions before fracturing his ankle a couple of weeks ago. He won’t play before mid-season, but he’s still worth stowing away on your watch list. … Coming off a hamstring procedure, Baldwin is a wildcard in Seattle. … Quick has been relegated to second-team work throughout camp, but could see action in three-wide sets after the Greg Salas trade. … NFL Films analyst Greg Cosell saw similar physical attributes to former Bills great Andre Reed when Harris entered the league a year ago. He’s a deep sleeper as Dallas’ potential No. 3 receiver.

Hankerson was behind Josh Morgan in the Redskins’ Week 1 depth chart. Keep him in mind for later in the season. … Sanders will move to the No. 3 receiver role now that Mike Wallace has reported for duty. … Tate is out two weeks with a right knee injury.

Already behind Justin Blackmon in the pecking order, Robinson has no prayer of matching last year’s numbers. … Manningham is in a rotation with Randy Moss opposite Michael Crabtree in a run-heavy offense. … Floyd is the No. 4 receiver in an offense without a quarterback or an offensive line.

As I mentioned earlier under Christian Ponder, the Vikings offense offers sneaky fantasy appeal this year with a stud running back, the league’s most versatile weapon, and a potential stud tight end. Locked in as an every-down tight end in an offense seeking a No. 2 target in the passing game, Rudolph offers size, speed and athleticism on par with Rob Gronkowski. Last year’s second-rounder dominated training camp while earning Ponder’s trust with an impressive catch radius in tight circles. There’s not a better breakout candidate at the position this year.

With prototypical size and athleticism, Bennett has been one of the NFL’s biggest underachievers since the Cowboys grabbed him in the second round of the 2008 draft. How much of that was due to limited opportunity behind Jason Witten? We’re about to find out. Eli Manning turned Kevin Boss and Jake Ballard, two players far more limited athletically, into fantasy starters. He could easily do the same for the Black Unicorn.

Kendricks appeared to be the next great tight end after a strong preseason a year ago, but fell flat on his face in the regular season. New OC Brian Schottenheimer is expected to feature the tight end prominently in his offense, and Kendricks has been a go-to receiver for Sam Bradford in exhibition action. He’s back on the radar in 14- and 16-team leagues.

A healthy Clark has emerged as a bit of a bounce-back candidate after showing a good rapport with Josh Freeman throughout training camp. His upside is capped, however, as a passing-down player in Greg Schiano’s run-first offense. At age 33 with 15 missed games over the past two years, Clark is more of a dice roll than a sure thing.

Chandler made waves as the offense’s biggest playmaker during offseason practices, and continued to shine during training camp. Primarily a red-zone threat in 2011, Chandler could be in for a boost in targets between the 20s. I’d make him prove it first in 12-team leagues.

The fantasy community arrived at a consensus months ago that Jacob Tamme would be a top-10 tight end while Dreessen plays a supporting role. We have no idea if that will hold true or not. Dreessen has been every bit as involved in preseason action. … Miller returns to the No. 1 tight end role in Seattle with Kellen Winslow out of the picture. … Housler, Allen and Cameron are talented young tight ends with breakout potential later in the season if their role in the passing game increases.

The Steelers talked up an increased role for Miller all offseason, but nothing changed in the preseason. The offensive line is still weak enough that Miller will have to stay in to block. … Forget the sleeper talk on Davis. Jay Cutler isn’t looking at his tight ends in the passing game. … Cooley looks to be done as a fantasy asset.

If you plan to “stream” defenses off the waiver wire for 16 weeks, the least effective offenses entering the season appear to be the Jets, Browns, Dolphins, Cardinals and perhaps the Rams.

Seahawks

Seattle is owned in 75 percent of CBS leagues, but that number should be closer to 100. Buoyed by the league’s best secondary, a talented young linebacker corps and a fearsome front four, the Seahawks boast arguably the league’s fastest defense. The Week 1 matchup couldn’t be any better with Arizona’s NFL-worst offensive line on the docket.

Broncos

Speaking of porous offensive line, the Steelers travel to Denver to square off against the pass-rushing duo of Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil. Left tackle Max Starks is still working to return to form from ACL surgery, and neither of the Pittsburgh early-round rookies will help in pass protection before October.

Raiders

Offensive line woes, part three. Philip Rivers’ first-half struggles last year were directly related to poor pass protection, specifically at left tackle. It looks like more of the same this year, with overwhelmed undrafted free agent Mike Harris guarding his blindside while Jared Gaither (back) is sidelined. The Raiders’ underrated front four could have Rivers on the run all night on Monday.

Vikings

Jacksonville’s best player is headed for a third-down role in his first game back from a lengthy holdout. The Vikings are worth a look as a spot start while testing Blaine Gabbert’s preseason improvement in a quick-passing offense.

Chris Wesseling is a senior football editor and Dynasty league analyst for Rotoworld.com. The 2011 NFL season marks his fifth year with Rotoworld and his third year contributing to NBCSports.com. He can be found on Twitter @ChrisWesseling.Email :Chris Wesseling